Car-spring check



(No Model.) l' 2 sheets-sheen 1.

W. ROBINSON. GAR SPRING CHECK.

` No. 444,182. Patented Jan. 6, 1891.

lingen-tor:

me Nonms Pzrzns co., muro-mno., wAsHmGwN, n. c.

(No Model.) Y

, W. ROBINSON.

ACAR SPRING GHECK.A

Patented Jan. 6, 1891.

Witnesses:

.Ewenzom UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM ROBINSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THF. ROB- INSON RADIAL CAR TRUCK COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

CAR-SPRING CHECK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,182, dated January 6, 1891.

Application iiled April '7, 1886'. Serial No. 198,052. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ROBINSON, a citizen of the United States, residing in Boston, in the county of Suifolk and State of Massachusetts, have invent-ed a new and useful Car-Spring Check or Air-Cushion, of which the following -is a specification.

/Vhen cars or carriages pass over rough places. the sudden and considerable compres- Io sion and rebound of the springs make very rough riding, even when the best springs are used. To obviate this and afford a gentle check or cushion to the action of the spring, thus overcoming all violent vibration and making riding easier, is the object. of my invention. To this end I utilize the movement which causes the sudden vibration of the spring to compress air or other i'luid within a cylinder, whereby the vibration of the spring 2o is gradually retarded and limited and the shock dissipated on a cushion of compressed air or other fluid.

In all the figures in the accompanying drawings, which form a part ot' this specifica- 2 5 tion, my invention is shown in Vertical section, and similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

Figure l shows my car-spring check applied to a car-truck. Fig. 2 shows it in connection with an elliptic spring. Fig.3 shows it inclosed in a spiral spring, and Fig. 4 shows it in detail. Fig. 5 is a modification, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged view, of a section of the cylinder, showing a valve. Fig. 7 shows the car- 3 5 spring check as applied in connection with a semi-elliptic spring, as in a street-car. Figs. 7 and 8 show it as applied between the axlebox and car or truck frame, while Fig. 9 shows it applied below the axle-box.

4o A is a car-spring check consisting, essentially, of a cylinder B, provided with a piston C, attached to the'piston-rod D. Said cylinder has its ends inclosed with tight-litting caps or covers a and b, the piston-rod D extending out of said cylinder through the cap b. The

piston C is packed, preferably, with cupshaped packings d e, opening in opposite directions, whereby said piston ts the cylinder tightly in whichever direction said piston may move relatively to said cylinder.

Referring to Figs. l, 3, and 4, the cylinder B has its upper end attached to the truckframe F and the piston-rod D attached to the equalizerE. Thus when the springs G or G', Figs. l and 3, are compressed the air in the cylinder above the' piston is compressed and forms a cushion to retard any violent compression of the spring, while at the same time the air below the piston is rareiied, thus further retarding the movement of the piston 6o and consequently of the spring. When the spring rebounds or opens, the reverse action takes place. he air below the piston is compressed and that above its rareiied, whereby the rebound of the-spring is retarded and cushioned. Thus it will be seen that by the use of this air-cushion or check all violent shocks and vibrations of the springs are averted andl the riding made much easier and more comfortable. When heavy loads are 7o to be supported, I use air-tight cylinders, as described, and to make the lower chamber of the cylinder air-tight I use the stuffing-boxf, Fig. 4, through which the piston-rod D passes. For light loads, in some cases I providethe cylinder with valves g g', placed inside and at opposite ends ofthe cylinder and covering the orifices h. (See Figs. 1l and 6.) By this arrangementthe valve is closed and the air compressed in front of the piston, but allowed to 8o till the chamber behind the same, under ordinary atmospheric pressure, by opening the valve inwardly. These valves are adjustable and should not be made altogether tight, otherwise the piston would not readily return to its normal position. In some cases I place the valves g g over the orifices h outside of the cylinder instead of inside, thus allowing the air to escape slowly in front of the piston while retarding the same. Atthe same time 9o the valve in its rear being closed, the air in the rear of the piston ,becomes rarefied, and thus also retards the advance of the piston. Then a heavier fluid than air is used, or when to exclude dust or for other cause it is desirable to prevent any connection between the interior of the cylinder and the outer air and yet to regulate the pressure in said cylinder, I make a small orifice in the piston C at z', Fig. 2, whereby the air o r other fluid roo may pass slowly from one side of said piston to the other. The. rapidity ol' this passage may be regulated in any suitable manner.

In Fig. 3 the spring-check A is shown inelosed within a spiral spring G', the cylinder being suitably attached to the upper' springseatm, and the piston-rod to thelowerspringseat 11, while in Fig. 2 the check is attached to and between the upperand lower members of the elliptic spring I. When conditions permit I prefer these arrangements, since the check is wholly or partly concealed, takes up no more room than the spring, and the springs can be furnished already provided with checks adapted to thel capacity ofthe springs. Nevertheless the check can be readily applied to trucks already in use without interfering with their mechanism, as shown in Fig. I, A. I apply to each side of the truck one, two, or 4 three checks, according` to requirements.

In Figs. 7 and S the car-spring check is shown as connecting the axle-box K with the truck or car frame F. In Fig. 7 it is shown in connection with the semi-elliptic spring L, and in Fig. S between the side springs M. This arrangement is particularly adapted to street-cars when there is room for the check between the axle-box K andthe canframe F. In some cases. however, there is not. room. I then apply the check below the box K, as shown in Fig. t). llore one end of the check A is connected to the bottom of the axle-box K and the other end to the strap or guard N, attached to the pedestal O, the latter being bolted to the ear-frame F', whereby the upand-down movement of the pedestal t) compresses the air alternately above and below the piston C and retards the action of the spring M', substantially as already described.

It frequently happens that there is an irrcgular side movement between the adjustable parts ot' the truck or car. Particularly is this the case in a streetcar. To colnpensate forsuch irregularity of movement, I provide the check with flexible. preferably balland-socket, joints 7.: at opposite ends. (Sec Figs. t and G.) As this joint may be of any suitable construction it is not necessary to more fully describe it here.

In Fig. 5 a modification is shown in which a spring G" is inclosed in the cylinder I3. The piston C is supported by the lower spring G", and the inclosed spring G is provided with an air check or cushion, while thc spring I" operates in the open air in the usual manner.

In a carriage or haelt the check A may be attached directly to the axle and to the body of the carriage.

I do not. limit myself to the specific construction of the cheek herein described, consisting, essentially, of a cylinder and piston; but in some cases I may use a diaphragm or bellows construction of the check, and instead of compressing the air within the check mechanism may produce a partial vacuum therein and actuate the cheek by means of the direct pressure phere.

In all cases any other fluid may be substituted for air in my ear-spring check, if it be found to answer the purpose as well or better, without interfering with the spirit of my invention.

I claim as my invention, and desire to sccure by Letters Patent- I. In combination with a car-spring, acyli nder provided with a piston working therein, said cylinder and piston heilig adapted to retard and limit the vibration of said spring, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a car or truck frame provided with a spring or springs, of a cylinder having a piston working therein, said cylindcrand piston opening and closing in unison with said springs and adapted to retard and limit the vibrations thereof through the agency of fluid-pressure, substantially as Set forth.

Il. The combination, substantially as herein set forth, of a spring and a check mechanism consisting, essentially, of a cylinder and a piston working therein,said checl; mechanism being wholly or partly inclosed by said spring and adapted to retard the vibrations thereof by means of fluid-pressure.

AI. In combination with a car-spring, check mechanism consisting, essentially, of the cylinder I3, the piston U, working therein and provided with cup-shaped packings d e, opening in opposite directions, for the purpose of securing a close tit while said piston is moving in either direction with reference to said cylinder, substalitially as described.

5. In combination with the truck-frame F, the equalizer IC, and the springs G, one or more check mechanisms consisting, essentially, of cylinders and pistons working therein, said check mechanisms being connected between said truck-frame and equalizer and adapted to retard and limit the Vibrations of said springs by means of fluid-pressure, substantially as described.

(5. A carspring check mechanism c0n structed substantially as described, and provided at each end with a ilexible or universal joint adapting said check mechanism to readily adjnst itself to any irregular motion of the movable parts of the car or truck, sub`- stantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with a car-spring, of check mechanism consisting, essentially, of the cylinder B and piston C, working therein, said piston being provided with an opening or passage-way, whereby air or other luid may pass alternately from one end of said cylinder to the other through said opening or passageway, substantially as described.

of the external atmoslVILLIAM ROBINSON.

Tiitnesscs:

FRANCIS S. DYER, GEO. T. ANGELL.

IOO 

